Policy Officer

Government Recruitment Service; Borough of Runnymede; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK seeks a Policy Officer to contribute to the development and implementation of regulations regarding veterinary medicines. The role involves managing line responsibilities, participating in legislative processes, and leading communications to internal colleagues and external stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have relevant experience and be adept at navigating complex regulatory environments. Join us in making a significant impact on animal health and public welfare.

Qualifications

• Experience in policy development and implementation.
• Knowledge of veterinary medicines regulation.
• Ability to communicate complex legislation to diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies on veterinary medicines.
• Manage line responsibilities and lead on communication strategies.
• Participate in legislative processes and stakeholder consultations.

Skills

Policy development

Legislative process knowledge

Effective communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

About the VMD

You may not have heard of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), but have you ever:

• eaten meat, eggs, fish or honey
• drunk milk
• owned a pet or animal
• taken antibiotics

If you said yes to any of the above, you are directly affected by what the VMD does.

The VMD is the regulatory and policy lead responsible for issues concerning the authorisation, use, and manufacture of veterinary medicines in the UK.

Our aim is to protect public health, animal health, and the environment, and promote animal welfare by assuring the safety, quality and effectiveness of veterinary medicines.

Find out more at: About us - Veterinary Medicines Directorate - GOV.UK

About the Job

As a Policy officer, you will be responsible for contributing to the development and implementation of policy and legislation on veterinary medicines including medicated feeds, specified feed additives, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and residues. This includes work on fees and charges. Veterinary medicines regulation has undergone a period of significant change due to the introduction of new legislation in Great Britain. The regulation of veterinary medicines operates slightly differently in Northern Ireland, and this adds to the complexity of the work dealt with by the VMD.

Main duties of this role :

• Line management responsibilities.
• Contributing to the legislative process from making to enacting legislation; setting out proposals for new laws and / or making changes to existing ones.
• Liaising with the Legislation and Better Regulation teams in Defra.
• Participating in the VMD’s Policy Network; Meeting current and future policy challenges in consultation with subject matter experts from the relevant business areas.
• Leading on communications that explain legislation and / or policies to internal colleagues, Ministers and external stakeholders.
• Proactively contributing to corporate aims and objectives and actively participating in meetings as part of the corporate governance structure.
• Representing the VMD at Defra, other government departments and stakeholder meetings, as required.
• Complying with ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 27001 (information security) standards, and GDPR and record management requirements.
• Act corporately – meeting, role-modelling, embedding, and championing the corporate objectives set by the VMD.